U.S. patent application number 12/584473 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-10 for woman's garment with side closure devices.
Invention is credited to Robbin Tufano Chiaramonte.
Application Number | 20110055994 12/584473 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43646503 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110055994 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiaramonte; Robbin Tufano |
March 10, 2011 |
Woman's garment with side closure devices
Abstract
A woman's garment for covering the breasts of a woman, such as a
bra, that includes two cup shaped portions for covering and
supporting the breasts and a lateral strap that extends outwardly
from one of the cup shaped portions. The lateral strap encircles
the back of the woman and has a closure device located at its
distal end. Another closure device is located proximate to the
outside edge of the other cup shaped portion and is readily
detachable and attachable with the closure device on the lateral
strap. Due to the length of the lateral strap, the closure device
of the lateral strap and the closure device proximate to the cup
shaped portion form a connection that is automatically positioned
proximate to and underneath the arm pit of the wearer such that the
connection is not visible through an outer garment and thus creates
a seamless appearance.
Inventors: |
Chiaramonte; Robbin Tufano;
(Tuckahoe, NY) |
Family ID: |
43646503 |
Appl. No.: |
12/584473 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/67 ;
450/39 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41F 1/006 20130101;
A41C 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/67 ;
450/39 |
International
Class: |
A41D 7/00 20060101
A41D007/00; A41C 3/00 20060101 A41C003/00 |
Claims
1. A woman's garment comprising two cup shaped portions adapted to
cover the breasts of a woman, a lateral strap extending outwardly
from one of the cup shaped portions adapted to encircle the back of
a woman, said lateral strap having a distal end with a first
closure device, a second closure device affixed proximate to the
other cup shaped portion and connectable with the first closure
device, wherein the closure devices, when connected, are located
beneath the arm pit of woman.
2. The woman's garment as defined in claim 1 further including a
pair of vertically oriented straps extending upwardly for the cup
shaped portions to pass over the shoulders of a woman and be
secured to the lateral strap.
3. The woman's garment as defined in claim 1 including a small
strap extending from the cup shaped portion and wherein the second
closure device is located at the distal enc of the small strap.
4. The woman's garment as defined in claim 1 wherein the closure
devices are hook and eye fasteners.
5. The woman's garment as defined in claim 1 wherein the closure
devices are snaps.
6. The woman's garment as defined in claim 1 wherein the garment is
a brassiere.
7. The woman's garment as defined in claim 1 wherein the garment is
a bathing suit or a component of a bathing suit.
8. A method of securing a woman's garment to a woman, the method
comprising the steps of: placing a garment having first and second
cup shaped portions in position on a woman wherein the first and
second portions are adapted to overlie the breasts of a woman, the
garment having at least one lateral strap extending from the first
cup portion, encircling the woman with the lateral strap; and
joining the lateral strap to the second cup portion at a location
proximate to and underneath the arm pit of a woman.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of placing a garment in
position comprises placing a garment having vertically oriented
straps over the shoulders of a woman.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of joining the lateral
strap to the second cup portion comprises joining the lateral strap
to a small strap extending outwardly for the second cup
portion.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of joining comprises the
step of inserting a hook on the lateral strap or second cup portion
to a loop on the second cup portion or lateral strap.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein the garment is a bra.
13. The method of claim 7 wherein the garment is a bathing suit.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a garment to be worn by a
woman, and, more particularly, to a garment having a pair of cup
shaped portions adapted to cover and support the breasts of a woman
and includes a lateral strap having a closure device at its distal
end that connects with another closure device affixed to, or
proximate to, the garment such that the closure devices, when
connected, are located along the side of the woman.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are, of course, a wide variety of woman's garments and
many different ways to secure the garment to the woman. On type of
garment, however, is intended for covering and supporting the
breasts of a woman and which includes a pair of cup shaped portions
that carry out that purpose. Typical examples include a brassiere
(bra), bathing suit or the like, however there are other garments
that can be applicable.
[0003] In such instances, there are normally one or more straps
that are used to secure the cup shaped portions in the proper
position and the strap or straps normally have some closure devices
at their distal ends to facilitate securing the garment in place
and those closure devices must be readily, but securely, attachable
and detachable by the wearer. In the case of a bra, for example,
however, it is also important that the location of the connection
between the closure devices be at a location where the connection
is not visible through an outer garment so that the closure
connection presents a seamless appearance of the wearer.
[0004] At the present, such garments may have two straps that
extend outward from the cup shaped portions and are joined together
by the closure devices at or proximate to the middle of the back of
the woman. Such location creates a bulge and the connection can
therefore be visible to others through an outer garment.
[0005] Another location is to have a closure devices connected
together at a location intermediate the cup shaped portions such
that the connection between the closure devices of the garment is
located in the front, center area of the of the wearer.
[0006] In either instance, the connection between the closure
devices can be visible through the outer garment and therefore the
look of the seamless appearance is simply not present.
[0007] It would therefore be advantageous to have a woman's garment
having a connection location for closure devices that secure the
garment to the wearer at a location where the connection is not
visible through an outer garment so as to create a seamless
exterior appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a woman's
garment, such as a bra or bathing suit, that includes two cup
shaped portions adapted to cover and support the breasts of the
woman. While the present invention is particularly suitable for
garments such as a bra or bathing suit, it can be seen that it is
also applicable to other garments, including dresses and the
like.
[0009] A lateral strap extends outwardly from one of the cup shaped
portions and encircles the back of the woman and is attached to the
other cup shaped portion. The lateral strap may be constructed
integral with the cup shaped portion from which it extends or may
be secured thereto by sewing and the like. A closure device is
located at the distal end of the lateral strap and which interacts
with another closure device located at or proximate to the other
cup shaped portion to form the connection therebetween that is
readily attachable and detachable by the wearer.
[0010] The closure device proximate to the other cup shaped portion
may be actually located on the cup shaped portion or there may be a
small strap that extends outwardly a short distance from the cup
shaped portion to properly position the ultimate connection between
closure devices in the desired position of the present
invention.
[0011] When the two closure devices are connected together as the
garment is being worn by the woman, due to the length of the
lateral strap, the location of the connection is proximate to and
underneath the arm pit of the woman, such that the connection
location of the closure devices is not visible to others and is not
visible through an outer garment.
[0012] Due to the particular location of the connection between the
closure devices of the present invention, the garment is easy to
put on by the wearer and the closure devices are invisible to
outside viewing. The closure devices can be conventional devices
such as buttons, snaps or closure devices of other types and which
are hidden for others as well as comfortable to the wearer.
[0013] The garment may also optionally have vertically oriented
straps that extend upwardly from the cup shaped portions so as to
pass over the shoulders of the woman and be secured to the lateral
strap at the back of the woman. The vertically oriented straps can
be integral with the material of the garment or may be separately
made components that are sewn to the cup shaped portions and the
lateral strap.
[0014] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more readily apparent during the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings
herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a woman's garment
constructed in accordance with the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a woman wearing the garment
of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view
of a woman's garment 10 constructed in accordance with the present
invention. As can be seen, the garment 10 includes two cup shaped
portions 12, 14 that are adapted to cover and support the breasts
of the woman wearing the garment 10. Extending outwardly from the
cup shaped portion 12 is a lateral strap 16 that, when worn by a
woman, encircles the back of the woman. The lateral strap 16 has a
distal end 18 having a closure device 20 provided thereon. The
lateral strap 16 may be constructed integral with the cup shaped
portion 12 or may be secured thereto by sewing and the like.
[0018] A further closure device 22 is located at the outer edge 24
of the cup shaped portion 14 and is compatible with the closure
device 20 such that the closure devices 20, 22 can be used to
attach and detach the lateral strap 16 and the cup shaped portion
14 as the woman dons or removes the garment.
[0019] The closure devices 20, 22 can be conventional devices
currently used with women's garments and may be hook and eye
devices, zipper, snaps, buttons or other devices used in the
attaching and detaching garments.
[0020] In addition, there can be vertically oriented straps 26, 28
that extend upwardly from the cup shaped portions 12, 14 and which
then pass over the shoulders of the woman wearing the garment and
are secured to the lateral strap 16. Again, the vertically oriented
straps can be integral with the material of the garment 10 of may
be separately made components that are sewn to the cup shaped
portions 12, 14 and the lateral strap 16.
[0021] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of
a woman 30 wearing the garment 10 of FIG. 1. As can be seen, the
garment 10 includes a pair of cup shaped portions 32, 34 that cover
and support the breasts of the woman 30. Only one vertically
oriented strap 36 is shown in FIG. 2, it being seen that there are
two of such vertically oriented straps.
[0022] A closure device 38 is shown slightly extended from the cup
shaped portion 32 and, as stated, the closure device 38 may be
directly affixed to the cup shaped portion 32 or there may be a
small strap 40 extending from the cup shaped portion 32 so as to
locate the closure device 38 in the desired location in accordance
with the present invention.
[0023] Another closure device 42 is provided at the distal end 44
of the lateral strap 46 and the closure device 42 is compatible and
readily attachable and detachable from the closure device 38. A
noted with respect to FIG. 1, the lateral strap 46 extends around
the back of the woman 30 and is attached to or is integral with the
cup shaped portion 34.
[0024] From FIG. 2, the location of the connection between the
closure devices 38 and 42 can be seen to be proximate to and just
below the arm pit 48 of the woman 30, that is, when the woman's arm
50 extends downwardly in its normal relaxed position, the location
of the connection between the closure devices 38 and 42 lies under
the arm of the woman 30 so that the connection is not visible
through any outer garment and the outer garment so as to create a
seamless appearance.
[0025] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous
adaptations and modifications which can be made to the side
connection garment of the present invention which will result in an
improved garment, yet all of which will fall within the scope and
spirit of the present invention as defined in the following claims.
Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the following
claims and their equivalents.
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